Kamloops John Moose Fulton Field Regional Airport

Kamloops Airport (YKA) occupies a plateau above the Thompson River valley, eight kilometres west of downtown Kamloops, British Columbia. It is a regional airport that handles scheduled flights to Vancouver and Calgary, plus seasonal service to other destinations, and serves as a base for charter and medevac operations. The single-runway facility is compact but functional, processing roughly 300,000 passengers annually before the pandemic, with numbers since recovering steadily. Its location in the dry interior of British Columbia means weather delays are rare — fog and snow are manageable, and the surrounding terrain of sagebrush-covered hills gives the airport an open, airy feel.

Getting There

From downtown Kamloops, the airport is about a 15-minute drive via Tranquille Road or the nearby Yellowhead Highway (Highway 5). The most direct route is from 8th Street heading north, then turning onto Halston Avenue and following signs to the terminal. Taxis and ride-share services are available from the city centre and typically cost around $30–$40 CAD. Kamloops Transit operates bus route 18 between the airport and the downtown Transit Exchange, with service roughly every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the time of day; check the schedule in advance as frequency varies. For those driving, the airport has a long-term parking lot near the terminal entrance, with a daily rate around $10–$12 CAD. The parking lot is not particularly large, but the airport's passenger volume means spots are usually available. Cyclists can access the terminal via Mountain View Road, but there are no dedicated bike lanes, and traffic can be brisk.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Kamloops Airport is a single-storey building with a straightforward layout. Upon entering, passengers find the check-in counters immediately to the left, with the security screening area directly ahead. The terminal is wheelchair-accessible via a ramp at the main entrance and an accessible door. Inside, there is a Wi-Fi network — free and reasonably reliable, though speeds can dip during peak hours. Washrooms are located near the boarding area and include a wheelchair-accessible toilet and a changing table for infants. The waiting area is modest, with seating for about 100 people; it can feel crowded when flights are boarding. The busiest times are weekday afternoons around 2 pm, when multiple departures to Vancouver and Calgary are scheduled. There is a small concession stand that sells coffee, snacks, and packaged sandwiches — nothing elaborate, but enough to tide you over. No full-service restaurant or bar exists in the terminal. Boarding is via a ground-level door; passengers walk across the tarmac to the aircraft. The overall atmosphere is calm and efficient, with staff who are generally helpful and quick to assist passengers with mobility issues or questions.

Kamloops Airport (YKA) and Kamloops

Kamloops is a city of roughly 100,000 people situated in the Thompson Valley, at the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers. Its economy was built on mining, forestry, and ranching, but today it also thrives on education (Thompson Rivers University), health care, and tourism. The airport acts as a crucial link for both residents and visitors, offering direct flights to major hubs without the congestion of larger airports.

For travellers arriving at YKA, Kamloops offers a range of experiences. The city is a base for outdoor recreation: Sun Peaks Resort, about a 45-minute drive north, is one of Canada's largest ski areas in winter, and in summer it becomes a mountain biking and hiking destination. The Kamloops Bike Ranch and numerous trails along the rivers attract cyclists from across the province. The Thompson and North Thompson rivers are popular for fishing (steelhead, salmon) and whitewater rafting. Golfers have more than a dozen courses in the area.

Culturally, the city has a growing arts scene. The Kamloops Art Gallery and the Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park provide insight into both contemporary and Indigenous history. The historic downtown along Victoria Street features restored brick buildings housing cafes, boutiques, and breweries. The Kamloops Blazers, a Western Hockey League team, attract fans to the Sandman Centre during the season.

What makes Kamloops worth visiting beyond its recreation is its character as a genuine interior BC city — not a resort town, but a working community with a friendly, unpretentious feel. The dry climate (over 200 sunny days a year) means outdoor activities are possible most of the year. The airport's convenience — easy access, short security lines, and proximity to the city — means visitors can be on the slopes or the river within an hour of landing.

Practical Information

Kamloops Airport is not open 24 hours; the terminal building generally opens two hours before the first departure and closes after the last arrival. Passengers should check their flight's schedule and plan to arrive no more than two hours early, as the waiting area is small. The airport's website (kamloopsairport.com) provides flight status, parking rates, and contact details. For inquiries, call +1 250-376-3613.

One concrete tip: If you are flying on a weekday afternoon, particularly around 2 pm, expect the check-in line to be longer and the boarding area to be fuller. Arrive a full 90 minutes before departure to avoid stress. For those renting a car, the counters are just past check-in, and the car park is a short walk to the terminal.